Our Team
Meet the experts behind our practice
PRIMARY CARE
Peter Ziegler, MD
Supervising Physician
Dr. Ziegler is a board-certified family physician with over 25 years of experience in primary care. He earned his Doctor of Medicine at Tufts University and completed his residency in family medicine at Brown University. He worked for 18 years with the Indian Health Service, then at Assurance Health and Wellness, and most recently at Community Partners, Inc. integrating primary care with behavioral health services. Dr. Ziegler believes in the importance of connection and communication with his patients to best assist with their healthcare needs.
Dan Carter, FNP
Nurse Practitioner
Dan graduated from American Career College Anaheim where he obtained his LPN in 2004. Later, he received his MSN from Walden University in 2021. Dan comes to us with extensive experience in both emergency room and rehabilitation settings serving as a charge nurse for patients with acute illnesses. With this experience, Dan is dedicated to provide long-term care for his patients.
Juniper Dery-Chaffin, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Juniper earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Northern Arizona University and Master of Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona. She works as a family medicine physician assistant providing primary care services, including, but not limited to, general family medicine, outpatient procedures, annual wellness exams, preventative medicine, chronic disease management, pain management, and well-woman exams. In addition to outpatient care, Juniper is responsible for primary care rounding through Escalera Health at Cornerstone Behavioral Health El Dorado in Tucson. She treats primary care and behavioral health patients at Escalera.
THERAPY
Kelli Trueba, MA, LPC-S
Licensed Therapist | Director of Behavioral Health
Kelli earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Redlands in 2001 and her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2003. She has worked in Tucson as a licensed behavioral health professional since 2004, and as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 2010. She has extensive training, experience, and leadership working within crisis mental health and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Kelli has a love for helping other pursue happiness from a personal and professional perspective.
Sarah Herndon, LMSW
Licensed Therapist | Therapy Supervisor
Sarah attended the University of Arizona for her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Hawaii Pacific University for her Master’s Degree in Social Work. Sarah is a Licensed Master Social Worker passionate about empowering her clients to make successful, lasting progress toward their goals. Her professional background includes work in international and domestic adoption, youth LGBT+ advocacy, chronic and terminal illness counseling, general mental health and serious mental illness therapy, medical management, and human trafficking survivor advocacy. Sarah has served as a Field Instructor for MSW students and is active in the Tucson community’s human and animal rights sector. Sarah’s therapeutic approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, positive psychology, and motivational interviewing. Prior to joining the Escalera Health team, Sarah worked in facility administration, quality improvement, and regional-level management for medical clinics.
Angela Daniels-Valenzuela, LISAC
Licensed Therapist
Angela received two Masters Degrees, the first in Art Therapy and Counseling and the second in Human Resources and Substance Abuse Counseling. She has over 21 years of experience working with adults, children, and families with numerous behavioral health issues. In addition to traditional talk therapy, Angela utilizes Art Therapy as a supplemental tool to aid expression of especially difficult issues. This therapeutic technique allows exploration of various issues through art-making and can be healing. Angela has experience working with blended families, partners in interracial relationships, individuals struggling with bi-racial identity or multi-ethnicity, and individuals involved in probation and Child Protective Services. Angela’s patients represent a variety of cultures, including members of tribal communities in Arizona.
Jo-Ann Marcus, LCSW
Licensed Therapist
Jo-Ann is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of New England. Her therapy style is collaborative, pragmatic, and compassionate. She has extensive experience helping clients who are struggling with loss and grief, life transitions, divorce, stepfamilies and parenting, domestic violence, workplace issues, and depression. Jo-Ann helps people find better ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, as well as internal conflict and strained relationships.
Dara Dupree, LCSW
Licensed Therapist
Dara earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work at Arizona State University. She provides compassionate whole health approaches including Mindfulness, CBT-Trauma Informed, Couples Counseling, Motivational Interviewing, Substance and Relapse Prevention, Grief and Loss, and psychoeducational tools to improve coping skills and communication techniques. Dara has worked with adolescents and adults in community behavioral health and hospital settings for over 25 years.
Andrea Moreno, LMSW
Licensed Therapist
Andrea received her Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University and earned certifications in Solution Focused Brief Therapy, ASU Latino Cultural Competency in Social Work, Crisis Prevention Intervention, Suicide Prevention and Awareness, Trauma Informed Care and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has worked with both children and adults providing behavioral health assessments, individual and group counseling intervention services, therapeutic plans, safety plans, and reunification planning. Through psychoeducation and empathic listening, Andrea helps her clients reach their recovery goals. She is fully bilingual and emphasizes patience and respect to successfully work with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Arlene Woolfolk, LAC
Licensed Therapist
Arlene’s experience is in individual counseling, family counseling, treatment planning, individualized assessments, and trauma informed crisis management. A University of Arizona graduate with a master’s in mental health counseling, Arlene uses psychoeducation to promote client understanding regarding the impacts of trauma as it relates to integrated care services. This covers treatment issues (including medication), official diagnoses, and relevant skills training. She approaches therapy with professionalism, warmth, empathy, acceptance, and humor.
Amber Gin, LMSW
Licensed Therapist
Amber provides person-centered therapy with compassion and empathy through an integrated approach. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. Amber works with adults of all ages who are dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief and loss, and low self-esteem. She specializes in therapy with older adults and has extensive experience with informal caregivers and families of loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Frank Fountain, LAC
Licensed Therapist
Frank is a graduate from Grand Canyon University with honors. Frank has certifications in Trauma and Grief and Bereavement. He specializes in these areas along with substance abuse and addictions along with mood and personality disorders. Risk and crisis management are a focus. In meeting the client where they are, Frank uses an integrated approach to therapy. Utilization of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Structural Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provide an approach to meet the client where they are at. Other integrations of Existentialism and Gestalt supplement the main modalities. Frank brings experience from Group Therapy, Inpatient and Outpatient settings, as well as Title 36 Work in providing a level of safety to the individual in exploring personal Challenges. Frank also has worked in Child therapy, Play therapy and Family therapy.
Frank has worked in the field of mental health for over 15 years beginning with Traumatic Brain Injured Individuals and is an associate licensed therapist.
Stephanie Conlee, LMSW
Licensed Therapist
Stephanie received her Bachelor’s in Psychology, which she admits was absolutely fascinating, and her Masters in Social Work. Stephanie’s passion in life has always been to help others become the very best version of themselves. She works hard to find the silver lining in all of life’s struggles, and she does this by using a multifaceted approach. Stephanie is experienced in CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, person-centered and solution-focused therapy. She came to Tucson after having worked with orphaned children in Mexico, and she worked closely with Tucson’s homeless population. Her background includes: Parent Aide work with families within the DCS system, Direct Support with Youth in Behavioral Health, Case Manager for both adults and children, Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital social worker, brief hospice work, Therapist working with young adults to elderly with focus being given to Childhood trauma, Family of origin trauma, marital issues, LGBTQ+ issues, general mental health, schizophrenia, substance use/recovery and much more. Stephanie uses a non-clinical environment and approach to treatment and allows there to be open dialog to promote healing in the most organic way possible. She looks forward to being a part of your journey to healing!
Marla Brewer, LASAC
Licensed Therapist
Marla’s experience is in individual counseling, couples and family counseling, individualized assessments and substance use. A University of Ottawa graduate with a master’s in addictions counseling, Marla uses psychoeducation and mindfulness-based practices to promote client understanding and to assist clients in reaching their goals. Marla is also certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.) which aids clients dealing with trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, and depression through hand and eye movements. She approaches therapy with professionalism, empathy, acceptance and humor. She is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Karen Reynolds, LMSW
Licensed Therapist
After 28 years as a special education teacher, Karen changed careers and began her journey in the behavioral health system. She decided to further her education and in 2019, she graduated from Arizona State University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Karen is currently a Licensed Master Social Worker who uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to help clients work toward their goals. Karen uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness and Solution Focused Therapy techniques among other things. She has provided services to a variety of populations including those working on substance use issues, those who are incarcerated and those who have a Serious Mental Illness and survivors of sexual assault.
Amber Moriconi, LMSW
Licensed Therapist
Amber earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. She is passionate about assisting others through life difficulties to promote healing and acceptance. Her professional background includes work with children and families in the DCS and foster care system, chronic and life limiting illnesses counseling, hospice care and grief and loss counseling. Amber assists people with finding skills to cope with depression, anxiety, relationship strain, work stress, life transitions and trauma. She approaches therapy with compassion and acceptance in supportive therapeutic environment.
SUPPORT STAFF
Anthony Dianda, Practice Manager
Jamie Walker, RN
Lesette Amos, MA
Accalia Ortega, MA
Brittney Koning, MA/Front Desk
Desiree Duarte, MA/Front Desk
Rosalind Dolby, Eligibility Specialist
